Junior Chariots bring home first national crown in wheelchair hoops

Wednesday

Apr 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Joey BaskervilleRockford Register Star

The Junior Chariots finished fourth in the state.

A solid achievement, no doubt, but the Rockford Park District team exceeded expectations after winning the Junior Varsity Division of the 2014 National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s National Tournament last weekend in Louisville, Ky.

“They were definitely the underdogs of the tournament,” said Laura Gibbs-Green, public relations and social media manager. “Other teams had better records coming in, so it was definitely a sweet victory.”

The national title is the Junior Chariots’ first in its 19-year history. Members Joel Boomer, Jessie Garrett, Will Glendenning, Jake Gregor, Nikki McGee, Brenden Ojibway, Cameron Poole and Peyton Withrow celebrated Tuesday at Midway Village, where fans, family, friends, and supporters met the national champs.

The team was escorted Sunday by the Rockford Police Department to the Indoor Sports Center, then was greeted by fans.

Two of the team’s games at the tournament went into overtime; in one, Poole sunk a shot that forced the OT.

“We played some of the best teams in the nation,” general manager Paula Reiter said in a press release. “Luck was on our side throughout the entire tournament.

“These youths worked really hard and are very dedicated to the sport they love. We couldn’t have done it without all the support from back home and our fans in the stands, who drove hundreds of miles to root us on during our title game. I don’t think they have stopped smiling, and this win is a memory for a lifetime.”

After the big win, the Junior Chariots attended a banquet and Jake Gregor was named the most valuable player, Will Glendenning made the all-tournament team and Nikki McGee and Gregor earned senior recognition.